Located in western Nova Scotia, the city of Halifax is home to many historic landmarks, including the Town Clock on Citadel Hill, Saint George's Round Church, and the Halifax Defence Complex. Its growth was spurred in part by the oil and gas industry, and by an influx of people from rural communities. Several businesses were built during this period, and the population increased. This article provides an overview of the city's past and present.
The city is divided into several neighbourhoods. The urban core is located in the centre of Halifax, which is surrounded by a decreasing population density. In the northwest and west of the city are rural areas, which serve as suburbs. The city's population is composed of a mixture of urban and rural areas, and the majority of residents commute to the urban core. The population of the area ranges from one thousand to 7,000.
The 1860 Agricultural Census identified tobacco, corn, and cotton as the major crops of the Halifax region. The city's antebellum prosperity was based on the production of flat tobacco. In 1850, the average planter owned ten slaves, but some larger landowners had more than 100. The black population surpassed the white population by three to two. Today, the city is home to a thriving industrial sector.
During World War II, Halifax served as a front line city. The city was well protected, but the local populace was plagued by the threat of German raids. During the war, some merchant ships and two small naval vessels were sunk off the outer approaches of the harbor. The harbour was small, and the city's infrastructure was neglected after twenty years of prewar economic stagnation. During the war, housing problems simmered and culminated in a large riot by military personnel on VE Day.